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Once you’ve figured out where to go, there are things to keep in mind for safety’s sake.
- Allow bikers and horses to pass by keeping to the right, and practice a sit-stay while rewarding good behavior with some yummy treats.”
- Don’t let your dog off-leash and especially don’t let them approach other on-leash dogs.
- Don’t feed the wildlife, but bring lots of water and a collapsible bowl. I love to hike with a hands-free leash belt.”
- Watch out for rattlesnakes, especially in sunny areas. If you see one, don’t approach and give it a wide area to pass. (This may seem obvious, but just in case: If it coils, it’s going to strike. If it ignores you, you’re OK.) Miner advises that gopher, racer and king snakes are generally fairly docile and harmless, but give them space for their own safety from your dog.
- For your own safety learn how to identify poison oak and do not touch the leaves or branches. In winter, the sticks can be free of leaves but still produce a reaction.
- Do not let dogs even chew on anything from a sago palm. Those can be lethal just from saliva contact, not even outright ingesting.
- Miner advises using a towel to wipe everyone down before getting back in the car to avoid bringing ticks home. Look for ticks on the towel and shake it, then place the towel in its own plastic bag.
- Watch for signs of heatstroke or overheating by monitoring your dog’s tongue for swelling and curling, panting speed and intensity, gum color fading, water intake and eye squinting for stress.
- Dogs on the edge [of heatstroke] may become wobbly, insist on laying down or try to dig a nest in a shady space to cool off
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